The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-09
The Grandpa Who Didn't Like Christ.
mas.

Die. IL was all ABOUT grandpa, too.
Dolly did not feel very we'll acquaint-
ed with grandpa yet. Perhaps it was
because he had not lived long enough
at Dolly's house, although I think six
months ought to be long enough time
for any little girl to get acquainted
with her grandpa, don't you?
But then, you see, Dolly's grandfa-
ther was dignified old man who look
ed very stern and talked such big
words that Dolly hardly ever under
stood what he meant, and he never
took her up in his lap and told her sto-
ries, the way Kitty Blake's grandpa
did. -...
But this was the worst thing of all.
To think of having grandpa who
didn't believe in Christmas! Why,
Dolly thought she was the most unfor-
tunate little girl in the whole town,
and Kitty Blake told her mamma that
she "wouldn'thave such grandpa as
Dolly's for anything"
And when Dolly had tried to be 80.
good to him, too! Why, ever so many
times after grandpa had been outdoors
saving or chopping, and bad come in
with slivers in his hands, Dolly had
brought needle and taken out every
silver, 'just as easy" so as not to hurt
him.
And she had learned to mix the vim.
egar and water and sugar that he liked
to drink hot days, after being out
working in the sun. 49,
And that Sunday when grandpa
had forgotten the days of the week,
and thought it was Saturday, and
went out into the backyard after break
fast and began saving wood, and papa
had to go and call him in Dolly never
even laughed at him. She felt sorry
to see how ashamed he was because he
could not remember when Sunday
came. .r..-. ~ .-z.... ,. ~.
But just now I am afraid that Dolly
was wishing away down in her heart
that grandpa had never made his ap-
pearance at her house. For had she
not heard. him say, christmas is
very foolish holiday?"
Mamma, passing by the door, saw
the sorrowful little face and stopped
to find out what the matter was.
"Won't we ever have any Christmas
any more ?" asked Dolly, as two big
tears rolled out of her eyes. "I just
think its too bad, and I just wish
grandpa would 60 away, do," and
poor Dolly burst into tears -
"Why, Dolly!" said mamma, as she
drew her little girl into her lap. "I'm
sure you don't mean that. Just think
how lonely and sad poor grandpa was
after grandma died. You wouldn't
have wanted him to stay in the old
farmhouse all alone, with no one to
take care Of him, would you ?"
"N-no," sobbed Dolly, "but I just
wish he was q comf'able sort of a
grandpa and didn't make ME 'fraid of
him all the time"
"Listen to me Dolly" said mamma,
as she wiped the little girls tears away
with her handkerchief. "When
grandpa was little boy his father and
mother did not keep Christmas the
way we do, and so grandpa never found
his stocking full of balls and tops and
candy and nuts and all other things
boys like. And 1 suppose that is the
reason why he thinks Christmas is all
nonsense. Now, Dolly, let's you and
make him see how nice it is.
Somamma and Dolly talked over
little plan between themselves, a plan
that made Dolly clap her hands, and
rush off upstairs to get ready to 60
shopping.
AS for mamma, she went to grand
pas closet and got an old boot, and
wrapped it up in paper, and Dolly and
she started off, carrying it with them.
Toward night they came back bring
ing another bundle. Dolly ran up
stairs and hid it away in her bureau
drawer, and that was the last that was
seen Of the bundle till Christmas
morning.
Dolly was up early that day. She
looked in her stocking, and then she
went and hid up in the hall. The
breakfast bell was ringing, when all of
a sudden grandpa's door flew open and
Dolly heard him say, "Hum! why!
whyw and she did not wonder what
he thought, for she knew what he had
found. What do you suppose it was?
Why, pair of slippers hanging from
the dooE-knob, with "Merry Christ
mas! !" in big letters OH piece of paper
pinned to them.
MY grandpa was awful surprised"
said Dolly to Kitty Blake when she
came over to see what Santa Claus had
brought. "He almost cried, knew;
because I pceped and saw him. was
afraid he did not like them at first. I
never cry when l like things. But
guess he did; for he wore them all
day, and mamma told him I gave them
to him, and he said "Bless the child,
just as your grandpa does, and man.
ma says she guesses lie does begin to
l II